This article is from page 16 of the 2012-08-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A NORTH Clare man has been laid to rest almost three years after going missing in the River Lee in Cork.
Brecan Mooney (31) died after falling into the River Lee during heavy floods on November 19, 2009.
It is thought that Mr Mooney was swept into the river by strong winds as he crossed the Christy Ring bridge in the city centre.
Despite an intensive 21-day search conducted by rescue services, family and friends, Mr Mooney’s body was never recovered. Attempts to locate the body were hampered by dangerous water and weather conditions.
An inquest into Mr Mooney’s death returned a verdict of accidental death due to drowning.
In September 2011, Mr Mooney’s family were informed that the remains of a body had been discovered in the Lee.
The length of time the body had been in the water, along with the fact that the vertebrae could support a body of similar weight and height to Mr Mooney’s, indicated that they were the remains of the missing Clare man.
His identity was confirmed when the results of an 11-month series of DNA tests were made known to the family on Wednesday, August 15, the same day as Mr Mooney’s birthday.
Brecan Mooney had been working as a geologist with the Environmental firm White, Young and Greene and had also been studying for a doctorate at University College Cork (UCC).
Friends and former classmates came out to say goodbye to Mr Mooney as the funeral procession passed through Glanquin, Carron and Kilfenora on Saturday.
Mr Mooney was laid to rest at Shanakyle Cemetery in Kilrush.
Brecan’s father, Brian Mooney, said the burial had brought some consolation to the family.
“His teachers were on the road to say goodbye, his friends from national school. He would’ve loved it. He was terribly close to people here.”
Brian Mooney added, “We found the last few days emotionally very draining. It had an almost cathartic effect for me, almost cleansing.”